Bethesda.

There is no reason to travel to NoVa. Just go to Bethesda and see if your DC can make a team. If not, try Potomac.

Reminder that 2012 in fall will be 11v11, so that starts MLSNext and ECNL for top boys teams. Lots of movement in the player pool between clubs at this age as rosters expand and top players want to move to top leagues.

Anonymous wrote:New to the world of soccer and wondering what leagues are the best for 11u and 12u boys? Is it Potomac? Bethesda? Juventias? Fusion? PPA? Trying to make a decision. My sons has offers from two of the clubs listed above (neither are top teams in that age group) and want to give him the best opportunity to grow. Thanks in advance!

Leagues?

Lately, At these ages the top teams are playing a year up in EDP and/or Acela. Some VA team’s are also playing a year up in NCSL.

That said, if you’re not offered the top team that doesn’t matter and what’s best will depend on you and the kids. the lower level team and clubs will play EDP on age. You might see a few clubs go ncsl, as the scheduling is easier, however as they get older the level goes down. The lower ncsl divisions are basically rec level, I’d avoid.

If you want to guess at relative level of offers look up the team you’re offered and see what division EDP they are in and their spring results. Keep in mind the bottom 2-3 typically go down and top 2-3 usually go up in EDP next season.

Which clubs will depend, if you’re top 2-3 teams at the larger clubs like Bethesda and Potomac, most coaches and players will be engaged. If not then find one of the smaller club coaches style you like.

Regardless if you’re new to soccer and the boys care about “growing” or just being able to play on higher teams, the best focus will be individual skill work and small group that focus on 1v1. Maybe some agility and speed work. Depends on them and how much they are motivated to put in work on their own outside of work practice.

Fusion is fun and cheaper, but typically low level like classic teams

Juventus so far is marketing plus a mid level EDP club

PPA varies team to team and year to year a great amount. If you find a great coach who will be there next year it might be worth it as there are some good teams but many kids (and even a few coaches) tend to move from ppa to more “serious” clubs around these ages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, if you are not a top player (and since you said "new to travel soccer," I will assume your boy isn't) don't join Bethesda for U12, they cut down from 5 to 3 teams for U13 and you will be left scrambling for a new club. For U11, its possible to move up and then make the third team by U13.

If you can make second team at Potomac, do that. if not, avoid. Maybe consider second team at Achilles (DC-MD border) if they have one at those age groups. I would also look at Paragon.

Definitely not Achilles.

One one the top technical clubs in the area and the advice is to stay away from Achilles. Good grief.

what makes them a technical club?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top U12 (2012) teams in the area are SYC followed by Bethesda. Unless your kid is a superstar it will be tough the get a spot in either team. Achilles 2012 is probably third. They are good and very technical.

For U11 (2013) Bethesda is in my opinion slightly better than SYC, but they're close. No other 2013 in the area comes close, unless you want to drive all the way to Coppermine.

There are at least a dozen teams in the DMV who are better than Achilles 2012 top team. Heck, SYC and Bethesda second teams could beat them. My DS has played them all and others in this age group.

Name the 12. Btw, SYC plays kickball.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, if you are not a top player (and since you said "new to travel soccer," I will assume your boy isn't) don't join Bethesda for U12, they cut down from 5 to 3 teams for U13 and you will be left scrambling for a new club. For U11, its possible to move up and then make the third team by U13.

If you can make second team at Potomac, do that. if not, avoid. Maybe consider second team at Achilles (DC-MD border) if they have one at those age groups. I would also look at Paragon.

Definitely not Achilles.

One one the top technical clubs in the area and the advice is to stay away from Achilles. Good grief.

Anonymous wrote:The top U12 (2012) teams in the area are SYC followed by Bethesda. Unless your kid is a superstar it will be tough the get a spot in either team. Achilles 2012 is probably third. They are good and very technical.

For U11 (2013) Bethesda is in my opinion slightly better than SYC, but they're close. No other 2013 in the area comes close, unless you want to drive all the way to Coppermine.

If my kid was a superstar, I'd hope for a higher option than syc or bethesda

Anonymous wrote:The top U12 (2012) teams in the area are SYC followed by Bethesda. Unless your kid is a superstar it will be tough the get a spot in either team. Achilles 2012 is probably third. They are good and very technical.

For U11 (2013) Bethesda is in my opinion slightly better than SYC, but they're close. No other 2013 in the area comes close, unless you want to drive all the way to Coppermine.

There are at least a dozen teams in the DMV who are better than Achilles 2012 top team. Heck, SYC and Bethesda second teams could beat them. My DS has played them all and others in this age group.

Anonymous wrote:The top U12 (2012) teams in the area are SYC followed by Bethesda. Unless your kid is a superstar it will be tough the get a spot in either team. Achilles 2012 is probably third. They are good and very technical.

For U11 (2013) Bethesda is in my opinion slightly better than SYC, but they're close. No other 2013 in the area comes close, unless you want to drive all the way to Coppermine.

There is no reason to consider SYC. Stay in Montgomery County.

The top U12 (2012) teams in the area are SYC followed by Bethesda. Unless your kid is a superstar it will be tough the get a spot in either team. Achilles 2012 is probably third. They are good and very technical.

For U11 (2013) Bethesda is in my opinion slightly better than SYC, but they're close. No other 2013 in the area comes close, unless you want to drive all the way to Coppermine.

Look into the coaching. Potomac and Bethesda rotate coaches If the club you like best and like the coach, just make sure coach is there next year

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, if you are not a top player (and since you said "new to travel soccer," I will assume your boy isn't) don't join Bethesda for U12, they cut down from 5 to 3 teams for U13 and you will be left scrambling for a new club. For U11, its possible to move up and then make the third team by U13.

If you can make second team at Potomac, do that. if not, avoid. Maybe consider second team at Achilles (DC-MD border) if they have one at those age groups. I would also look at Paragon.

Definitely not Achilles.

Honestly, if you are not a top player (and since you said "new to travel soccer," I will assume your boy isn't) don't join Bethesda for U12, they cut down from 5 to 3 teams for U13 and you will be left scrambling for a new club. For U11, its possible to move up and then make the third team by U13.

If you can make second team at Potomac, do that. if not, avoid. Maybe consider second team at Achilles (DC-MD border) if they have one at those age groups. I would also look at Paragon.

Bethesda and Potomac will usually have the best players due to name recognition, badges, etc. But if you're not on the top team there you could be better off on a smaller club. At that age for boys in MoCo, I would actually recommend World Class Premier or Liverpool DC Metro.

New to the world of soccer and wondering what leagues are the best for 11u and 12u boys? Is it Potomac? Bethesda? Juventias? Fusion? PPA? Trying to make a decision. My sons has offers from two of the clubs listed above (neither are top teams in that age group) and want to give him the best opportunity to grow. Thanks in advance!